... Not by design SIR, The Stage, like most of the national press, has recently com mended a new book on contemporary British stage designers (November 30), as well as praising Lady Sainsbury for promoting the Linbury Prize for young theatrical artists. How is it possible, therefore, that your dance critic reviews a major new three-act ballet at the Royal Opera House (December 14) without men ...

... Tame TV SIR, Keith Pottage is right Now You See Them, Sometimes You Don't (December 28). The television camera is a restless animal which needs to be restrained. How is it that radio prog rammes can hold our attention without resort to gimmicks yet television, for all its popularity, insists on cinematic embellishment as if it had no confi dence in its power to hold an audience? As a ...

... No match for Equity Sir, I have always had problems about taking the Press seriously, although, I am intrigued by NOEA Welcomes Crackdown on Cowboy Operators (December 21) about the Home Secretary's attempts to deal with the organisers of unlicensed events. It was interesting to note the National Outdoor Events Associa tion's concern on this matter. Howev er, this article was revealing in ...

... In the chair Sir, You very kindly published an article on the applicants for the new London FM radio station, adding that I was heading the application of London Choice FM. May I put the record straight in that I am merely the Chairman of the London Choice FM Company which means that 1 simply have to bring together in formal meetings the wonferfu! creative talents of Jeffrey Tate, Alan Coren ...

... The more the merrier SIR, Peter Hepple, a usually impecc able authority on such matters, is mistaken in saying (December 14) that Jessie Matthews made remarkably few recordings. In a recording career that lasted from 1926 until 1974, she recorded no fewer than 60 songs, which seems prolific in comparison with most of her contemporaries. As for Mr Hepple's surprise in finding her a much ...

... Tell 'King Prat' I'm as white as snow Sir,--In response to the article on our pantomime in the Evening Standard and The Stage Boxing Clever (December 14). May I offer the following seasonal contribution. Hello boys and girls I'm Jon Conway, the wicked pantomime director who cast Barry McGuigan and Linda Lusardi at The Hexagon, Reading. I expect you think I've used the magic lamp to ...

... Don't list Goornev Sir, Could I correct the implication in your columns that I have, in the past, stood on the Centre Forward List in the Equity Council elections. I have never been on any List apart from an Independent List against Lists! Part of my argument in the forthcoming Referendum will be based on the fact that the List system is open to abuse in the current instance by Act for ...

... 'Don't close the door on our shop' LABOUR'S PLEDGE ON CASTING AGREEMENTS SHADOW arts spokesman Mark Fisher has pledged that see no reason casting agreements with stage and television bosses will agreed on dermined by Labour's recent policy U-turn on. SIR-I wished I was as confident as our union General Secretary Peter Plouviez, when he states that the reversal in policy by a future Labour ...

... Where's the jazz SIR, In his article on the founding ol an Art Bank (December 28), direc tor of Jazz Services Chris Hodgkins surprisingly omits all reference to jazz. Onewonders if this has anything tc do with the fact that Jazz Services' predecessors. The Jazz Centre Society, utilised public funds in a similai manner to that advocated by Hodgkin; but, due to chronic mismanagement, gave ...

... Thumbs up for Equity's referendum SIR, It is to Equity's eternal credit (December 28) that its governing body has acceded to members' requests for a triple referendum on three issues thai have been a source of annoyance tc rank and file members for many yean namely, two rule changes designed tc enhance the quality of our voting foi governing councillors, and the vexed Suestion of the future of ...

... Sounds that fall on deaf ears SIR, James Gordon's article The an of noise (December 28) merely under lines what I have been saying in letters to The Stage and elsewhere for some years although, regrettably, I have no idea what can be done to overcome this curse of over-amplification which afflicts not only the theatre but also the cinema. Vic Oliver s famous quota tion: It may not be good ...

... SIR,-In Brian Attwood's report (December 28) on the position of our casting agreements in the light of both Government legislation and statements by spokesmen for the Opposition, Mik Flood of Waterman's Arts Centre is quoted as saying that although in Europe there are no restrictions on entry into the profession they seem to protect royalties and other rights much better I am afraid he is ...